Chromen-2-one derivatives and their use as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present application discloses novel 8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yloxy)-chromen-2-one derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors. In other aspects the application discloses the use of these compounds, a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to novel8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yloxy)-chromen-2-one derivatives useful asmonoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.

In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds ina method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising thecompounds of the invention.

BACKGROUND ART

Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) currently provideefficacy in the treatment of several CNS disorders, including depressionand panic disorder. SSRIs are generally perceived by psychiatrists andprimary care physicians as effective, well-tolerated and easilyadministered. However, they are associated with a number of undesirablefeatures.

Thus, there is still a strong need for compounds with an optimisedpharmacological profile as regards the activity on reuptake of themonoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, suchas the ratio of the noradrenaline reuptake versus the serotonine anddopamine reuptake activity.

WO 2006/035034 (NeuroSearch A/S), and WO 2007/093604 (NeuroSearch A/S)describes various chromen-2-one-yl derivatives, useful as monoamineneurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide novel compounds which showactivity as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.

In one aspect, the invention provides a compound of Formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein R¹ is as definedbelow.

In another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition,comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of theinvention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together withat least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

In another aspect, the invention provides the use of a compound of theinvention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for themanufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment,prevention or alleviation of a disease or a disorder or a condition of amammal, including a human, which disease, disorder or condition isresponsive to inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake in thecentral nervous system.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for treatment,prevention or alleviation of a disease or a disorder or a condition of aliving animal body, including a human, which disorder, disease orcondition is responsive to responsive to inhibition of monoamineneurotransmitter re-uptake in the central nervous system, which methodcomprises the step of administering to such a living animal body in needthereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of theinvention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another embodiment of the invention is the provision of compounds withoptimal pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic properties such askinetic behavior, bio-availability, solubility, efficacy and/or adverseeffects.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to the person skilled inthe art from the following detailed description and examples.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention provides compounds of Formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹ representsmethoxy.

In another embodiment of the invention, the compound of the invention isexo-7-[(-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)oxy]-3-methoxy-chromen-2-one; ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Definition of Substituents

As used throughout the present specification and appended claims, thefollowing terms have the indicated meaning:

The term “C₁₋₆-alkyl” as used herein means a saturated, branched orstraight hydrocarbon group having from 1-6 carbon atoms, e.g.C₁₋₃-alkyl, C₁₋₄-alkyl, C₁₋₆-alkyl, C₂₋₆-alkyl, C₃₋₆-alkyl, and thelike. Representative examples are methyl, ethyl, propyl (e.g. prop-1-yl,prop-2-yl (or iso-propyl)), butyl (e.g. 2-methylprop-2-yl (ortert-butyl), but-1-yl, but-2-yl), pentyl (e.g. pent-1-yl, pent-2-yl,pent-3-yl), 2-methylbut-1-yl, 3-methylbut-1-yl, hexyl (e.g. hex-1-yl),heptyl (e.g. hept-1-yl), octyl (e.g. oct-1-yl), nonyl (e.g. non-1-yl),and the like.

The term “C₁₋₆-alkoxy” as used herein refers to the radicalC₁₋₆-alkyl-O—. Representative examples are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy(e.g. 1-propoxy, 2-propoxy), butoxy (e.g. 1-butoxy, 2-butoxy,2-methyl-2-propoxy), pentoxy (1-pentoxy, 2-pentoxy), hexoxy (1-hexoxy,3-hexoxy), and the like.

The term “treatment” as used herein means the management and care of apatient for the purpose of combating a disease, disorder or condition.The term is intended to include the delaying of the progression of thedisease, disorder or condition, the alleviation or relief of symptomsand complications, and/or the cure or elimination of the disease,disorder or condition. The patient to be treated is preferably a mammal,in particular a human being.

The terms “disease”, “condition” and “disorder” as used herein are usedinterchangeably to specify a state of a patient which is not the normalphysiological state of man.

The term “medicament” as used herein means a pharmaceutical compositionsuitable for administration of the pharmaceutically active compound to apatient.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein means suited fornormal pharmaceutical applications, i.e. giving rise to no adverseevents in patients etc.

The term “effective amount” as used herein means a dosage which issufficient in order for the treatment of the patient to be effectivecompared with no treatment.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” of a compound as used hereinmeans an amount sufficient to cure, alleviate or partially arrest theclinical manifestations of a given disease and its complications. Anamount adequate to accomplish this is defined as “therapeuticallyeffective amount”. Effective amounts for each purpose will depend on theseverity of the disease or injury as well as the weight and generalstate of the subject. It will be understood that determining anappropriate dosage may be achieved using routine experimentation, byconstructing a matrix of values and testing different points in thematrix, which is all within the ordinary skills of a trained physicianor veterinary.

Pharmaceutically Acceptable Salts

The compound of the invention may be provided in any form suitable forthe intended administration. Suitable forms include pharmaceutically(i.e. physiologically) acceptable salts, and pre- or prodrug forms ofthe compound of the invention.

Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts include, withoutlimitation, the non-toxic inorganic and organic acid addition salts suchas the hydrochloride, the hydrobromide, the nitrate, the perchlorate,the phosphate, the sulphate, the formate, the acetate, the aconate, theascorbate, the benzenesulphonate, the benzoate, the cinnamate, thecitrate, the embonate, the enantate, the fumarate, the glutamate, theglycolate, the lactate, the maleate, the malonate, the mandelate, themethanesulphonate, the naphthalene-2-sulphonate, the phthalate, thesalicylate, the sorbate, the stearate, the succinate, the tartrate, thetoluene-p-sulphonate, and the like. Such salts may be formed byprocedures well known and described in the art.

Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable cationic salts of a compound ofthe invention include, without limitation, the sodium, the potassium,the calcium, the magnesium, the zinc, the aluminium, the lithium, thecholine, the lysinium, and the ammonium salt, and the like, of acompound of the invention containing an anionic group. Such cationicsalts may be formed by procedures well known and described in the art.

In the context of this invention the “onium salts” of N-containingcompounds are also contemplated as pharmaceutically acceptable salts.Preferred “onium salts” include the alkyl-onium salts, thecycloalkyl-onium salts, and the cycloalkylalkyl-onium salts.

Examples of pre- or prodrug forms of the compound of the inventioninclude examples of suitable prodrugs of the substances according to theinvention include compounds modified at one or more reactive orderivatizable groups of the parent compound. Of particular interest arecompounds modified at a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, or an aminogroup. Examples of suitable derivatives are esters or amides.

The compound of the invention may be provided in dissoluble orindissoluble forms together with a pharmaceutically acceptable solventsuch as water, ethanol, and the like. Dissoluble forms may also includehydrated forms such as the monohydrate, the dihydrate, the hemihydrate,the trihydrate, the tetrahydrate, and the like. In general, thedissoluble forms are considered equivalent to indissoluble forms for thepurposes of this invention.

Labelled Compounds

The compounds of the invention may be used in their labelled orunlabelled form. In the context of this invention the labelled compoundhas one or more atoms replaced by an atom having an atomic mass or massnumber different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found innature. The labelling will allow easy quantitative detection of saidcompound.

The labelled compounds of the invention may be useful as diagnostictools, radio tracers, or monitoring agents in various diagnosticmethods, and for in vivo receptor imaging.

The labelled isomer of the invention preferably contains at least oneradionuclide as a label. Positron emitting radionuclides are allcandidates for usage. In the context of this invention the radionuclideis preferably selected from ²H (deuterium), ³H (tritium), ¹¹C, ¹³C, and¹⁴C.

The physical method for detecting the labelled isomer of the presentinvention may be selected from Position Emission Tomography (PET),Single Photon Imaging Computed Tomography (SPECT), Magnetic ResonanceSpectroscopy (MRS), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Computed AxialX-ray Tomography (CAT), or combinations thereof.

Methods of Preparation

The compounds of the invention may be prepared by conventional methodsfor chemical synthesis, e.g. those described in the working examples.The starting materials for the processes described in the presentapplication are known or may readily be prepared by conventional methodsfrom commercially available chemicals.

Also one compound of the invention can be converted to another compoundof the invention using conventional methods.

The end products of the reactions described herein may be isolated byconventional techniques, e.g. by extraction, crystallisation,distillation, chromatography, etc.

Biological Activity

Compounds of the invention may be tested for their ability to inhibitreuptake of the monoamines dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin insynaptosomes e.g. such as described in WO 97/30997 (NeuroSearch A/S) orWO 97/16451 (NeuroSearch A/S). Based on the balanced activity observedin these tests the compound of the invention is considered useful forthe treatment, prevention or alleviation of a disease or a disorder or acondition of a mammal, including a human, which disease, disorder orcondition is responsive to inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitterre-uptake in the central nervous system.

In one embodiment, the compounds of the invention are considered usefulfor the treatment, prevention or alleviation of: mood disorder,depression, atypical depression, depression secondary to pain, majordepressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, bipolar Idisorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder, mood disorder dueto a general medical condition, substance-induced mood disorder,pseudodementia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, panicdisorder without agoraphobia, panic disorder with agoraphobia,agoraphobia without history of panic disorder, panic attack, anxiety,generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, social phobia,specific phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder,sleep disorders, obesity, eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia,memory deficits, memory loss, dementia, dementia of ageing, seniledementia, Alzheimer's disease, memory dysfunction in ageing, drugaddiction, drug abuse, drug abuse liability, cocaine abuse, nicotineabuse, tobacco abuse, alcohol addiction, alcoholism, withdrawal symptomscaused by termination of use of addictive substances, premenstrualsyndrome, pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, late luteal phase syndrome,post-traumatic syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, persistent vegetativestate, lameness, urinary incontinence, stress incontinence, urgeincontinence, nocturnal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, erectiledysfunction, erectile difficulty, premature ejaculation, prematurefemale orgasm, movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease,parkinsonism, dystonia, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limbmovement disorder; pervasive developmental disorders, Asperger'sdisorder, Rett's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, learningdisabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), motorskills disorders, mutism, trichotillomania, narcolepsy, post-strokedepression, stroke-induced brain damage, stroke-induced neuronal damage,Gilles de la Tourettes disease, tinnitus, tic disorders, body dysmorphicdisorders, oppositional defiant disorder or post-stroke disabilities. Inanother embodiment, the compounds of the invention are considered usefulfor the treatment or alleviation of sexual dysfunction. In anotherembodiment, the compounds of the invention are considered useful for thetreatment or alleviation of erectile dysfunction. In another embodiment,the compounds of the invention are considered useful for the treatmentor alleviation of lameness. In another embodiment, the compounds of theinvention are considered useful for the treatment or alleviation ofrestless leg syndrome. In another embodiment, the compounds of theinvention are considered useful for the treatment or alleviation ofdystonia. In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention areconsidered useful for the treatment or alleviation of Parkinson'sdisease. In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention areconsidered useful for the treatment or alleviation of depression. Inanother embodiment, the compounds of the invention are considered usefulfor the treatment or alleviation of anxiety. In another embodiment, thecompounds of the invention are considered useful for the treatment oralleviation of pain, e.g. acute pain, chronic pain, mild pain, moderateor severe pain, postoperative pain, neuropathic pain, centralneuropathic pain, pain related to diabetic neuropathy, to postherpeticneuralgia, to peripheral nerve injury, to phantom limb pain, toneurogenic inflammation, to fibromyalgia, to chronic regional painsyndrome, somatic pain, visceral pain or cutaneous pain, pain caused byinflammation or by infection, pain related to arthritis, osteoarthritis,rheumatoid arthritis, neuronal hyperexcitability disorders, peripheralnerve hyperexcitability, back pain, cancer pain, dental pain, irritablebowel pain, irritable bowel syndrome, post-operative pain,post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), post-stroke pain, drug-inducedneuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), sympatheticallymaintained pain (SMP), trigeminal neuralgia, myofacial pain, chronicheadache, migraine, migraine-related disorders or tension-type headache.In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention are considereduseful for the treatment or alleviation of pain. In another embodiment,the compounds of the invention are considered useful for the treatmentor alleviation of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

It is at present contemplated that a suitable dosage of the activepharmaceutical ingredient (API) is within the range of from about 0.1 toabout 1000 mg API per day, more preferred of from about 10 to about 500mg API per day, most preferred of from about 30 to about 100 mg API perday, dependent, however, upon the exact mode of administration, the formin which it is administered, the indication considered, the subject andin particular the body weight of the subject involved, and further thepreference and experience of the physician or veterinarian in charge.

Preferred compounds of the invention show a biological activity in thesubmicromolar and micromolar range, i.e. of from below 1 to about 100μM.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

In another aspect the invention provides novel pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of thecompound of the invention.

While a compound of the invention for use in therapy may be administeredin the form of the raw chemical compound, it is preferred to introducethe active ingredient, optionally in the form of a physiologicallyacceptable salt, in a pharmaceutical composition together with one ormore adjuvants, excipients, carriers, buffers, diluents, and/or othercustomary pharmaceutical auxiliaries.

In one embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositionscomprising the compound of the invention, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt or derivative thereof, together with one or morepharmaceutically acceptable carriers, and, optionally, other therapeuticand/or prophylactic ingredients, known and used in the art. Thecarrier(s) must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible withthe other ingredients of the formulation and not harmful to therecipient thereof.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be those suitable fororal, rectal, bronchial, nasal, pulmonal, topical (including buccal andsub-lingual), transdermal, vaginal or parenteral (including cutaneous,subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous,intraarterial, intracerebral, intraocular injection or infusion)administration, or those in a form suitable for administration byinhalation or insufflation, including powders and liquid aerosoladministration, or by sustained release systems. Suitable examples ofsustained release systems include semipermeable matrices of solidhydrophobic polymers containing the compound of the invention, whichmatrices may be in form of shaped articles, e.g. films or microcapsules.

The compound of the invention, together with a conventional adjuvant,carrier, or diluent, may thus be placed into the form of pharmaceuticalcompositions and unit dosages thereof. Such forms include solids, and inparticular tablets, filled capsules, powder and pellet forms, andliquids, in particular aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions,emulsions, elixirs, and capsules filled with the same, all for oral use,suppositories for rectal administration, and sterile injectablesolutions for parenteral use. Such pharmaceutical compositions and unitdosage forms thereof may comprise conventional ingredients inconventional proportions, with or without additional active compounds orprinciples, and such unit dosage forms may contain any suitableeffective amount of the active ingredient commensurate with the intendeddaily dosage range to be employed.

The compound of the invention can be administered in a wide variety oforal and parenteral dosage forms. It will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that the following dosage forms may comprise, as the activecomponent, either a compound of the invention or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of a compound of the invention.

For preparing pharmaceutical compositions from a compound of the presentinvention, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can be either solid orliquid. Solid form preparations include powders, tablets, pills,capsules, cachets, suppositories, and dispersible granules. A solidcarrier can be one or more substances which may also act as diluents,flavouring agents, solubilizers, lubricants, suspending agents, binders,preservatives, tablet disintegrating agents, or an encapsulatingmaterial.

In powders, the carrier is a finely divided solid, which is in a mixturewith the finely divided active component.

In tablets, the active component is mixed with the carrier having thenecessary binding capacity in suitable proportions and compacted in theshape and size desired.

The powders and tablets may contain from five or ten to about seventypercent of the active compound. Suitable carriers are magnesiumcarbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugar, lactose, pectin, dextrin,cellulose, starch, gelatin, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, a low melting wax, cocoa butter, and the like.The term “preparation” is intended to include the formulation of theactive compound with encapsulating material as carrier providing acapsule in which the active component, with or without carriers, issurrounded by a carrier, which is thus in association with it.Similarly, cachets and lozenges are included. Tablets, powders,capsules, pills, cachets, and lozenges can be used as solid formssuitable for oral administration.

For preparing suppositories, a low melting wax, such as a mixture offatty acid glyceride or cocoa butter, is first melted and the activecomponent is dispersed homogeneously therein, as by stirring. The moltenhomogenous mixture is then poured into convenient sized moulds, allowedto cool, and thereby to solidify.

Compositions suitable for vaginal administration may be presented aspessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams or sprays containing inaddition to the active ingredient such carriers as are known in the artto be appropriate.

Liquid preparations include solutions, suspensions, and emulsions, forexample, water or water-propylene glycol solutions. For example,parenteral injection liquid preparations can be formulated as solutionsin aqueous polyethylene glycol solution.

The compound according to the present invention may thus be formulatedfor parenteral administration (e.g. by injection, for example bolusinjection or continuous infusion) and may be presented in unit dose formin ampoules, pre-filled syringes, small volume infusion or in multi-dosecontainers with an added preservative. The compositions may take suchforms as suspensions, solutions, or emulsions in oily or aqueousvehicles, and may contain formulation agents such as suspending,stabilising and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the activeingredient may be in powder form, obtained by aseptic isolation ofsterile solid or by lyophilization from solution, for constitution witha suitable vehicle, e.g. sterile, pyrogen-free water, before use.

Aqueous solutions suitable for oral use can be prepared by dissolvingthe active component in water and adding suitable colorants, flavours,stabilising and thickening agents, as desired.

Aqueous suspensions suitable for oral use can be made by dispersing thefinely divided active component in water with viscous material, such asnatural or synthetic gums, resins, methylcellulose, sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, or other well known suspending agents.

Also included are solid form preparations, intended for conversionshortly before use to liquid form preparations for oral administration.Such liquid forms include solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Inaddition to the active component such preparations may comprisecolorants, flavours, stabilisers, buffers, artificial and naturalsweeteners, dispersants, thickeners, solubilizing agents, and the like.

For topical administration to the epidermis the compound of theinvention may be formulated as ointments, creams or lotions, or as atransdermal patch. Ointments and creams may, for example, be formulatedwith an aqueous or oily base with the addition of suitable thickeningand/or gelling agents. Lotions may be formulated with an aqueous or oilybase and will in general also contain one or more emulsifying agents,stabilising agents, dispersing agents, suspending agents, thickeningagents, or colouring agents.

Compositions suitable for topical administration in the mouth includelozenges comprising the active agent in a flavoured base, usuallysucrose and acacia or tragacanth; pastilles comprising the activeingredient in an inert base such as gelatin and glycerine or sucrose andacacia; and mouthwashes comprising the active ingredient in a suitableliquid carrier.

Solutions or suspensions are applied directly to the nasal cavity byconventional means, for example with a dropper, pipette or spray. Thecompositions may be provided in single or multi-dose form. In the lattercase of a dropper or pipette, this may be achieved by the patientadministering an appropriate, predetermined volume of the solution orsuspension. In the case of a spray, this may be achieved for example bymeans of a metering atomising spray pump.

Administration to the respiratory tract may also be achieved by means ofan aerosol formulation in which the active ingredient is provided in apressurised pack with a suitable propellant such as a chlorofluorocarbon(CFC) for example dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, ordichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide, or other suitable gas. Theaerosol may conveniently also contain a surfactant such as lecithin. Thedose of drug may be controlled by provision of a metered valve.

Alternatively the active ingredients may be provided in the form of adry powder, for example a powder mix of the compound in a suitablepowder base such as lactose, starch, starch derivatives such ashydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).Conveniently the powder carrier will form a gel in the nasal cavity. Thepowder composition may be presented in unit dose form for example incapsules or cartridges of, e.g., gelatin, or blister packs from whichthe powder may be administered by means of an inhaler.

In compositions intended for administration to the respiratory tract,including intranasal compositions, the compound will generally have asmall particle size for example of the order of 5 microns or less. Sucha particle size may be obtained by means known in the art, for exampleby micronization.

When desired, compositions adapted to give sustained release of theactive ingredient may be employed.

The pharmaceutical preparations are preferably in unit dosage forms. Insuch form, the preparation is subdivided into unit doses containingappropriate quantities of the active component. The unit dosage form canbe a packaged preparation, the package containing discrete quantities ofpreparation, such as packaged tablets, capsules, and powders in vials orampoules. Also, the unit dosage form can be a capsule, tablet, cachet,or lozenge itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any of thesein packaged form.

In one embodiment, the invention provides tablets or capsules for oraladministration.

In another embodiment, the invention provides liquids for intravenousadministration and continuous infusion.

Further details on techniques for formulation and administration may befound in the latest edition of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences(Maack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.).

The dose administered must of course be carefully adjusted to the age,weight and condition of the individual being treated, as well as theroute of administration, dosage form and regimen, and the resultdesired, and the exact dosage should of course be determined by thepractitioner.

The actual dosage depends on the nature and severity of the diseasebeing treated, and is within the discretion of the physician, and may bevaried by titration of the dosage to the particular circumstances ofthis invention to produce the desired therapeutic effect. However, it ispresently contemplated that pharmaceutical compositions containing offrom about 0.1 to about 500 mg of active ingredient per individual dose,preferably of from about 1 to about 100 mg, most preferred of from about1 to about 10 mg, are suitable for therapeutic treatments.

The active ingredient may be administered in one or several doses perday. A satisfactory result can, in certain instances, be obtained at adosage as low as 0.1 μg/kg i.v. and 1 μg/kg p.o. The upper limit of thedosage range is presently considered to be about 10 mg/kg i.v. and 100mg/kg p.o. Ranges are from about 0.1 μg/kg to about 10 mg/kg/day i.v.,and from about 1 μg/kg to about 100 mg/kg/day p.o.

Methods of Therapy

In another aspect the invention provides a method for the treatment,prevention or alleviation of a disease or a disorder or a condition of aliving animal body, including a human, which disease, disorder orcondition is responsive to inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitterre-uptake in the central nervous system, and which method comprisesadministering to such a living animal body, including a human, in needthereof an effective amount of a compound of the invention.

It is at present contemplated that suitable dosage ranges are 0.1 to1000 milligrams daily, 10-500 milligrams daily, and especially 30-100milligrams daily, dependent as usual upon the exact mode ofadministration, form in which administered, the indication toward whichthe administration is directed, the subject involved and the body weightof the subject involved, and further the preference and experience ofthe physician or veterinarian in charge.

EXAMPLES

The following examples and general procedures refer to intermediatecompounds and final products for general formula (I) identified in thespecification. The preparation of the compounds of general formula (I)of the present invention is described in detail using the followingexamples. Occasionally, the reaction may not be applicable as describedto each compound included within the disclosed scope of the invention.The compounds for which this occurs will be readily recognized by thoseskilled in the art. In these cases the reactions can be successfullyperformed by conventional modifications known to those skilled in theart, which is, by appropriate protection of interfering groups, bychanging to other conventional reagents, or by routine modification ofreaction conditions. Alternatively, other reactions disclosed herein orotherwise conventional will be applicable to the preparation of thecorresponding compounds of the invention. In all preparative methods,all starting materials are known or may easily be prepared from knownstarting materials.

All reactions involving air sensitive reagents or intermediates areperformed under nitrogen and in anhydrous solvents. Magnesium sulphateis used as drying agent in the workup-procedures and solvents areevaporated under reduced pressure.

The abbreviations as used in the examples have the following meaning:

DCM: Dichloromethane

EtOAc: Ethyl acetate

THF: Tetrahydrofuran EA: Triethylamine Preparatory Examples endo-Benzoicacid 8-methyl-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl ester

Benzoylchloride (84.3 g, 600 mmol) was added during 30 min at <30° C. toa mixture of tropine (70.6 g, 500 mmol), potassium tert-butoxide (67.3g, 600 mmol) and THF (500 ml). The mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 2 h. Water (1 L) was added followed by extraction withdiethylether (2×500 ml). The organic phase was washed twice with water(2×200 ml) followed by a solution of saturated aqueous sodium chloride(200 ml). The ether phase was dried and hydrochloric acid in ethanol(170 ml, 3 M) was added. The precipitated hydrochloride was filtered andwashed with diethylether. The free base was obtained by adding an excessof aqueous ammonia followed by extraction with a mixture of ethylacetateand diethylether. Yield 66.8 g (54%).

endo-Benzoic acid 8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl ester

2,2,2-Trichloroethylchloroformate (75.0 ml, 544 mmol) was added dropwiseto a mixture of endo-benzoic acid 8-methyl-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ylester (66.8 g, 272 mmol) and dry toluene (500 ml). The mixture wasallowed to stir for 1 h at room temperature, followed by 15 h at 100° C.Water (250 ml) was added followed by stirring 1 h. The phases wereseparated and the organic phase was washed twice with water (2×200 ml).The mixture of the intermediate3-benzoyloxy-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acidtrichloromethyl ester, was dried and evaporated. Acetic acid (350 ml)was added followed by addition of zinc (53.4 g, 817 mmol) over 3 h timeperiod. Water (100 ml) was added, cooled by adding ice and made alkalineby adding concentrated aqueous ammonia (ca: 400 ml) and the mixture wasextracted with dichloromethane (2×300 ml). Yield 44.5 g (61%).

endo-3-Benzoyloxy-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acidtert-butyl ester

Di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate (39.9 g, 183 mmol) solved in THF (100 ml) wasadded to a stirred mixture of endo-benzoic acid8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl ester (44.5 g, 166.4 mmol), triethylamine(67.4 g, 666 mmol) and THF (250 ml) during 0.5 h at room temperature,followed by stirring for 1 h. Water (1 L) was added and the mixture wasextracted with diethylether (2×300 ml). The collected ether phase waswashed twice with water (2×200 ml), dried and evaporated. Yield 60.1 g(100%).

endo-3-Hydroxy-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acid tert-butylester

A mixture of endo-3-benzoyloxy-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester (55.0 g, 166 mmol), potassium hydroxide (11.2 g199 mmol) and ethanol (99%, 400 ml) was stirred for 3 days at roomtemperature. Potassium benzoate was separated by filtration and thefiltrate was evaporated. Diethylether (200 ml) was added and remainingpotassium benzoate was separated by filtration and the filtrate wasevaporated. The product was triturated with petroleum. Yield 30.0 g(80%). Mp 139.5-140.8° C.

Example 1Exo-tert-butyl-3-(3-methoxy-2-oxo-chromen-7-yl)oxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate(Intermediate)

Triphenylphosphine (1.15 g, 4.37 mmol) was solved in toluene (20 ml) andcooled to <20° C. Diethylazodicarboxylate (40% in toluene) (2.0 ml, 4.37mmol) was added to the mixture below 20° C., followed by stirring for 10minutes. endo-3-Hydroxy-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acidtert-butyl ester (0.828 g, 3.64 mmol) was added and after 10 minutes7-hydroxy-3-methoxy-chromen-2-one (0.70 g, 3.64 mmol) (preparedaccording to J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, p2662-2672) was added to themixture. The temperature raised to 25° C. due to an exothermic reaction.The mixture precipitates. The mixture was allowed to stir for 15 h atroom temperature. Water (20 ml) and sodium hydroxide (0.5 ml, 4 M) wasadded followed by stirring. The mixture was cooled on an ice-bath,filtered and washed with water and diethylether. Yield 0.92 g (63%).

Exo-7-[(-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)oxy]-3-methoxy-chromen-2-onehydrochloride (Compound 1.1)

Exo-tert-butyl-3-(3-methoxy-2-oxo-chromen-7-yl)oxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate(0.92 g, 2.29 mmol) and hydrogen chloride (15 ml, 1 M) in acetic acidwas mixed as a solution and stirred at room-temperature and precipitatedafter a few minutes. The product was filtered and washed withdiethylether. Yield 0.48 g (62%). LC-ESI-HRMS of [M+H]+ shows 302.13856Da. Calc. 302.138689 Da, dev. −0.4 ppm.

In vitro Inhibition Activity

Compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the reuptake of themonoamine neurotransmitters dopamine (DA) noradrenaline (NA) andserotonine (5-HT) in synaptosomes as described in WO 97/16451(NeuroSearch A/S).

The test values are given as IC₅₀ (the concentration (μM) of the testsubstance which inhibits the specific binding of ³H-DA, ³H-NA, or³H-5-HT by 50%).

Test results obtained by testing the compound of the present inventionappear from the below table:

TABLE 1 Test 5-HT-uptake DA-uptake NA-uptake compound IC₅₀(μM) IC₅₀(μM)IC₅₀(μM) 1.1 0.0029 0.07 0.0038

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notto be limited as by the appended claims.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claimsand/or in the accompanying drawings, may both separately and in anycombination thereof, be material for realising the invention in diverseforms thereof.

1.-15. (canceled)
 16. A compound of Formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹ representsmethoxy.
 17. The compound according to claim 16, which isexo-7-[(-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)oxy]-3-methoxy-chromen-2-one; ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 18. The compound accordingto claim 16, which isexo-7-[(-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)oxy]-3-methoxy-chromen-2-onehydrochloride.
 19. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising atherapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 16, ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together with at least onepharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.
 20. A methodfor treatment, prevention or alleviation of a disease or a disorder or acondition responsive to inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitterre-uptake in the central nervous system, which method comprises the stepof administering to such a living animal body in need thereof atherapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 16, ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 21. The method according toclaim 20, for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for thetreatment, prevention or alleviation of a disease or a disorder or acondition responsive to inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitterre-uptake in the central nervous system.
 22. The method according toclaim 21, wherein the disease, disorder or condition is pain, anxiety,depression or sexual dysfunction.
 23. The method according to claim 22,wherein the disease, disorder or condition is pain.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 22, wherein the disease, disorder or condition issexual dysfunction.